Vehicle Electronic Key Registration via Authenticated Short-Range Link

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost of maintaining a communication unit for wide area wireless communication in vehicles, particularly in two-wheeled vehicles, and the security risk of unauthorized access when using short distance wireless communication for electronic key registration.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle system that uses short distance wireless communication for electronic key registration, including reception, determination, and registration means to ensure secure acceptance of registration requests, thereby eliminating the need for a wide area wireless communication unit and enhancing security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a communication unit for wide area wireless communication is mounted in the vehicle, then the vehicle can securely receive secret codes or algorithms from external servers, but the manufacturing cost and running cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a communication terminal as an intermediary device that bridges the vehicle and the external server. The terminal receives secret codes or algorithms from the server via wide area wireless communication and transmits them to the vehicle through short distance wireless communication. This eliminates the need for the vehicle to have its own wide area communication unit, reducing costs while maintaining security through the intermediary's secure transmission channel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If information for electronic key unlock is transmitted from communication terminal to vehicle by short distance wireless communication, then the cost is reduced, but the security risk increases due to potential unauthorized access

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidsecurity risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary authentication and authorization actions before transmitting secret information. The communication terminal must be authenticated by the vehicle, and the transmission of secret codes or algorithms is only permitted after successful authentication. This preliminary security check prevents unauthorized devices from intercepting or injecting malicious information, mitigating the security risks of short distance wireless communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the vehicle verifies the authenticity of the communication terminal before accepting transmitted information. The terminal provides authentication credentials, and the vehicle responds with verification signals. This feedback loop ensures that only authorized terminals can transmit secret information, preventing unauthorized access while maintaining the cost benefits of short distance communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If a communication terminal of a third party transmits information necessary for unlock, then the vehicle can be accessed by multiple users, but the vehicle may be hacked by unauthorized parties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-user accessVSAvoidhacking risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent requires preliminary authentication of each communication terminal before granting access rights. When a third-party terminal attempts to transmit unlock information, the vehicle first verifies the terminal's authenticity and authorization status. Only authenticated terminals can successfully transmit valid secret information, enabling multi-user access while preventing unauthorized hacking attempts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3933154B1Vehicle, vehicle onboard device, and management method
Publication Date: 2024.06.05 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3933154B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3933154B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3933154B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle configured to cancel restriction of at least one function by unlock of a first key receives a registration request of a second key that is an electronic key from a communication terminal by short distance wireless communication, determines, on condition that the vehicle is unlocked by the first key, whether to accept the received registration request, and registers the second key concerning the registration request in a case where it is determined to accept the registration request.